![]() ![]() Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images 9. Kalidou Koulibaly and Victor Osimhen have starred for Napoli this year, with the latter's absence in recent weeks due to an eye injury having an impact on their results. The composed defender's importance to their title challenge has never been more evident. In their last four fixtures - all without the Senegal stopper - Napoli have lost three and conceded five. ![]() ![]() Indeed, across the first 11 fixtures in which Koulibaly featured, they conceded just three goals - keeping eight clean sheets - while their drop in form since his recent injury setback has been marked. The 30-year-old's highlight this season was the late winner in Napoli's comeback victory over Juventus in September, and he was influential as the Partenopei went 12 games unbeaten to start the campaign. He may have dropped from fourth place in 2020 to seventh this time around, but his value to Napoli remains undiminished. Still the outstanding African centre-back in world football - despite competition from Joel Matip - Koulibaly also retained his place in the ESPN FC 100 this year. As 2021 draws to a close, ESPN's Ed Dove ranks the top 10 male African players in the world during the calendar year. ![]()
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